Electric toothbrushes

ABSTRACT

An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush includes a handle having an electric motor, a head, and a neck extending between the handle and the head. The head has first end disposed adjacent to the neck and a second end opposite the first end. The head has a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristles disposed therein and a second bristle holder having a plurality of bristles disposed therein. The first bristle holder is located at the second end of said head. A rotating shaft is operatively connected to the electric motor and to the first moving bristle holder to reciprocate the first moving bristle holder in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the head.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/361,625, filed Mar. 4, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to the field of electric toothbrushes and,more particularly, the invention relates to the field of electricallypowered toothbrushes having at least one bristle holder that translatesor translates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The art is replete with techniques for transforming therotational output of a motor or other electromotive power source intodesired brushing motions. Many techniques include a shaft as a componentof the drive train. The shaft may rotate, oscillate, or reciprocate. Theshaft is coupled to a bristle holder. Most often, the bristle holder isdriven by the shaft in a rotating or oscillating manner about an axiswhich is normal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. However, there isa desire to provide bristle holders that provide a scrubbing action atthe leading edge of the toothbrush head in combination with bristleholders having static bristles or other movable bristle holders.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrushincludes a handle having an electric motor, a head, and a neck extendingbetween the handle and the head. The head has first end disposedadjacent to the neck and a second end opposite the first end. The headhas a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristles disposed thereinand a second bristle holder having a plurality of bristles disposedtherein. The first bristle holder is located at the second end of saidhead. A rotating shaft is operatively connected to the electric motorand to the first moving bristle holder to reciprocate the first movingbristle holder in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of thehead.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] It is believed that the present invention will be betterunderstood from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

[0006]FIG. 1 is a top planar, partial sectional, top view of an electrictoothbrush made in accordance with the present invention, wherein theelectric toothbrush incorporates a rotating shaft;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a planar, partial section top view of a toothbrush headsuitable for use with the electric toothbrush of FIG. 1;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a partial sectional side view of the embodiment of FIG.2, taken along line 3-3 thereof;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a planar, partial sectional top view of a secondembodiment of a toothbrush head suitable for use with the electrictoothbrush of FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 5 is a partial sectional side view of the embodiment of FIG.4, taken along line 5-5 thereof;

[0011]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of an toothbrush having a second bristleholder. The toothbrush is shown in partial section;

[0012]FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 6 of afirst embodiment of a toothbrush head;

[0013]FIG. 7A is a partial sectional side view of the head of FIG. 7,taken along line B-B of FIG. 6;

[0014]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along A-A in FIG. 6 of a secondembodiment of a toothbrush head;

[0015]FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along A-A in FIG. 6 of a thirdembodiment of a toothbrush head;

[0016]FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 6 of afourth embodiment of a toothbrush head;

[0017]FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 6 of afifth embodiment a toothbrush head;

[0018]FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of the fifth embodiment ofFIG. 11. The shaft is shown rotated to a different position than shownin FIG. 12;

[0019]FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 6 of asixth embodiment of a toothbrush head;

[0020]FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 6 of aseventh embodiment of a toothbrush head;

[0021]FIG. 15 is a bottom view of a head portion of a eighth embodimentof a toothbrush head;

[0022]FIG. 16 is a partial sectional view of the eighth embodiment of atoothbrush head of FIG. 15;

[0023]FIG. 17 is a partial sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 6 of aninth embodiment of a toothbrush head;

[0024]FIG. 18 is a side view of a toothbrush showing a first exemplaryalternate bristle arrangement; and

[0025]FIG. 19 is an end view taken along D-D of FIG. 8 showing a secondexemplary bristle arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] All patents and patent applications referenced herein areexpressly incorporated herein by reference, including U.S. provisionalapplication No. 60/361,625, filed Mar. 4, 2002. Reference will now bemade in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examplesof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein likenumerals indicate the same elements throughout the views. As will beappreciated, the present invention is directed to electric toothbrushesand electric toothbrush heads having one or more moving bristle holders.Optionally, the head might also include static bristles. The presentinvention can also be used with electric toothbrushes having replaceableheads. One such suitable replaceable head arrangement is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,617,601. The present invention can be used incombination with electric toothbrushes that have shafts that translate,oscillate, or reciprocate (as well as combinations thereof) to directlyimpart motion to each moving bristle holder. Preferably, however, thepresent invention is used with a shaft that rotates. Alternatively, themovable bristle holders can also be interconnected amongst themselves sothat the movement of one imparts movement to another.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, an electric toothbrush having a firstbristle holder that translates or reciprocates while the second bristleholder is static relative to the head is illustrated. In other words,the shaft is not operatively connected to the second bristle holder toimpart movement thereto. As used herein, the term “reciprocate” isintended to refer to a bidirectional linear motion (e.g., a back andforth motion or side to side motion). Vibration is any periodic movementhaving repeated cycles. Vibratory motion can have one or morefrequencies and amplitudes. Vibratory motion that is substantiallylinear is a reciprocating motion. The electric toothbrush 10 comprises atoothbrush head portion 20, a body or handle 22, and an elongated neck24 there between. As used herein, the term “forward” is intended torefer to the direction from the handle to the head while the term“rearward” is intended to refer to the direction from the head to thehandle. In addition, the term “longitudinal” is intended to refer to alengthwise feature of an element as seen from a top planar view thereof.For example, a longitudinal axis 30 is an axis passing through thelongest dimension of an element, such as the head or a shaft. Alongitudinal direction is a direction that generally corresponds to alongitudinal axis but which may not lie in the same plane as thelongitudinal axis. For example, the longitudinal axes of a shaft and atoothbrush head may not lie in the same plane but generally extend inthe same direction from a top planar view. Similarly, a neck and headthat are angled with respect to each other may not have longitudinalaxes that lie in the same plane, but do have axes that extend in thesame general longitudinal direction from a top planar view. The electrictoothbrushes of the present invention typically have an elongate headwith a longitudinal axis passing through the longest dimension thereof.This axis typically extends in the same general direction as thelongitudinal axes of the toothbrush neck and/or shaft. By the phrase“same general direction”, some angular deviation is contemplated betweenthe axes.

[0028] The handle is hollow and includes a motor 26 and batteries 28 forpowering the motor. The motor 26 is operatively connected to the shaft34 either by a coupling 31 or by a gearing assembly (not shown). Arechargeable power source can be substituted for the batteries 28. Thehead 20 has a longitudinal axis 30 passing there through. Thelongitudinal axis 30 extends in the same general longitudinal directionas a longitudinal axis 32 of shaft 34. The shaft 34 is housed at leastpartially within neck 24. A first bristle holder 36 is disposed at afirst end of the head 20, wherein the first end is at the forward mostpoint of the head 20. While the first bristle holder 36 is illustratedas circular in shape, other shapes and sizes can be utilized. Further,while the first bristle holder 36 is disposed at the first end of thehead 20, it will be appreciated that it can be disposed away from thefirst end and other features, such as stationary or static bristles,might be disposed between the first bristle holder 36 and the first endof the head 20.

[0029] A second bristle holder 38 is disposed adjacent the first bristleholder 36. The second bristle holder 38 is static or stationary relativeto the neck 24 and handle 22 or is movable as described more fullyhereafter. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first bristle holder 36 ismovably mounted in slots 62 in the toothbrush head 64 and driven in areciprocating or translating, transverse motion within the slots 62 by acam 16 included on a driving shaft 68. Alternatively, the slots 36 couldbe disposed in the in the first bristle holder 36 rather than thehousing of the toothbrush head 64. The slots 36 guide the first bristleholder 36 in its reciprocating movement. A plurality of L-shaped fingers65 depend from a bottom surface 67 of the first bristle holder 36 andare at least partially, slideably disposed within the slots 62. Whilethe fingers 65 are shown as L-shaped in cross-sectional end view of FIG.3, it is recognized that the fingers 65 can be provided in other shapesand sizes. For example, the fingers 65 might be cylindrically shaped orprovided as a parallelogram.

[0030] The cam 16 can comprise an appropriately shaped bead placed overor molded and fixedly secured to the shaft 34. For example, the bead isshaped as an eccentric cam. Alternatively, the cam can include one ormore rectilinear, curvilinear or other kind of bend, as shown by way ofexample in the embodiment of FIG. 7A. First 70 and second 72 camfollowers also depend from the bottom surface 67 of the first bristleholder 36. The cam followers are, for example, offset from thelongitudinal axis 30 of the first bristle holder 36 (i.e., are notsymmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis 30 of the firstbristle holder) and straddle or capture the cam 66. While the camfollowers 70 and 72 are preferably offset from the longitudinal axis ofthe first bristle holder 36, the cam followers 70 and 72 are preferablydisposed at about the middle of the first bristle holder 36. In otherwords, the cam followers are disposed about mid-way between theforward-most end of the first bristle holder 36 and the rearward-mostend of the first bristle holder 36, although depending upon the locationof the slots 36, the location of the cam followers might vary from aboutthe middle of the first bristle holder 36. As the motor 26 rotates theshaft 34 in accordance with arrow C, the cam 66 comes into contact witha surface 74 of the first cam follower 70 and drives the first camfollower 70, and therefore, the first bristle holder 36 away from afirst side 80 of the head portion 20 along a transverse axis 82 of thefirst bristle holder 36. As the shaft 34 continues to rotate, the cam 66becomes disengaged with the first cam follower 70. The cam 66 then comesinto contact with a surface 76 of the second cam follower 72 and drivesthe second cam follower 72, and therefore, the first bristle holder 36toward the second side 84 of the head portion 20. A clearance 86 isprovided between the first and second bristle holders 36,38 toaccommodate the spacing requirements of this motion. As this back andforth or side to side motion is repeated (as the shaft 34 continues torotate), a sweeping motion is provided that provides enhanced cleaningaction to the teeth in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in a second embodiment of theelectric toothbrush, the second bristle holder 138 is movably mounted inslots 102 in the toothbrush head 20 and separately driven in areciprocating or translating, transverse motion within the slots 102 bya cam 116 included on a driving shaft 108, in a similar manner to thecam 16 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The first bristle holder 136 isstationary. The cam 116 can comprise an appropriately shaped bead placedover or molded and fixedly secured to the shaft 108 as in the firstembodiment. First 110 and second 112 cam followers depend from a bottomsurface of the first bristle holder 138. The cam followers are, forexample, offset from the longitudinal axis 30 of the second bristleholder and straddle or capture the cam 116. As the motor 26 (see FIG. 1)rotates the shaft 108, the cam 116 comes into contact with a surface 114of the first cam follower 110 and drives the first cam follower 110, andtherefore, the second bristle holder 138 away from a first side 120 ofthe brush portion 20 along a transverse axis 118 of the head. As theshaft 108 continues to rotate, the cam 116 becomes disengaged with thefirst cam follower 110. The cam 116 then comes into contact with asurface 117 of the second cam follower 112 and drives the second camfollower 112, and therefore, the second bristle holder 138 toward thesecond side 126 of the head. As this back and forth or side to sidemotion is repeated (as the shaft 108 continues to rotate), the desiredsweeping motion is provided.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 17, various embodiments incorporating asecond movable bristle holder will now be described in combination witha first movable bristle holder similar to the first bristle holder 36previously described with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4. A first bristleholder 814 of the head 816 has a pair of cam followers 815 (see, e.g.,FIG. 7A) that depend from a bottom surface of the first bristle holderand that operatively engage the shaft 820 to reciprocate the firstbristle holder 814 in a side to side motion substantially transverse tothe longitudinal axis 818 of the head 816, as previously discussed. Theelectric toothbrush 810 has a head 816 and a body or handle 817. Theelectric toothbrush 810 includes a motor 819 and batteries for poweringthe motor. The head portion 816 has a longitudinal axis 818. The firstbristle holder 814 is illustrated as circular. However, other shapebristle holders are contemplated and within the scope of the invention.The motor 819 is operative to rotate the shaft 820. In short, withregard to the construction and operation of the shaft 820 in relation tothe first bristle holder 814, the electric toothbrush 810 is similar tothe toothbrush described in reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. However, theelectric toothbrush 810 also has a second bristle holder disposedadjacent the first bristle holder, such as second bristle holder 822.While it is desirable to locate the second bristle holder directlyadjacent the first bristle holder, it is contemplated that a gap may beprovided between the first and second bristle holders. In addition, thespace between the first and second bristle holders might be filled withstatic, stationary or fixed bristles that are embedded in fixed orstationary third bristle holder (not shown) which forms part of thetoothbrush head. In electric toothbrush 810, the second bristle holderis movable and separately associated with, and separately driven by, thedrive shaft 820.

[0033] For example, referring to FIG. 7, a second bristle holder 910 ismovably mounted in slots 912 in the toothbrush head 816 and separatelydriven in a vibratory, side-to-side, motion in a direction substantiallytransverse to the direction of the longitudinal axis 818 by an eccentriccam 914 included on a driving shaft 918. The cam 914 and other camsdescribed below can comprise one or more bends in the shaft 918, asshown for example in FIG. 7A, and as seen in views of other embodimentsdescribed below in FIG.11, FIG.12, and FIG. 13. Alternatively, the cam914 can be provided as a separate piece, which is attached to the shaft918 by adhesive, a press or snap fit, a co-molding or any othermechanical or chemical means known in the art. Optionally, the drivingshaft is supported by a shaft support 920. A cam follower 922 dependsfrom a bottom surface 924 of the second bristle holder 910. The camfollower 922 is offset from a longitudinal axis 926 of the secondbristle holder. As the motor 819 of the toothbrush 810 rotates the shaft918, the cam 914 comes into contact with a cam contact surface 928 ofthe cam follower 922 and drives the cam follower 922, and therefore, thesecond bristle 910 holder toward one side 930 of the toothbrush 810 andaway from the longitudinal axis 818 of the head portion 816. As theshaft 918 continues to rotate, the cam 914 becomes disengaged with thecam follower 922. A resilient biasing member such as a spring 934,lodged between a wall of the head portion 816 and a second surface ofthe cam follower, urges the cam follower 922, and therefore the secondbristle holder 910, back toward the longitudinal axis 818 of the headportion 816. As this back and forth or sided to side motion is repeated(as the shaft 918 continues to rotate), a sweeping or brushing motion isprovided that is distinct from and complimentary to the motion providedby the first bristle holder 814. The stroke and/or frequency of thesecond bristle holder 910 can be changed by varying the construction ofthe spring and placement and/or sizing of the cam 914 and the camfollower 922. For example, the cam follower 922 might be placed closerto the axis 926 to provide a shorter stroke or the cam follower 922 or astronger spring might be provided to increase the rate of return of thesecond bristle holder 910 or more than one spring might be provided.Alternatively, the cam follower 922 might form an acute angle with thebottom surface 924 of the second bristle holder 910 or the first surfacecan be provided as accurate, curvilinear, or in other complex forms asopposed to the planar surface shown in FIG. 7.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 8, in a second embodiment of the electrictoothbrush 810, a second bristle holder 1010 is movably mounted in slots1012 in the toothbrush head 816 and separately driven in a vibratory,swinging or pivoting motion about a hinge or pivot 1014, by a cam 1016included on a driving shaft 1018. The cam 1016 can comprise one or morebends in the shaft 1018 or be provided as a separate piece as previouslydiscussed. Optionally, the driving shaft is supported by a shaft support1020. A cam contact surface 1022 is located on a bottom surface of thesecond bristle holder 1010. As the motor 819 of the toothbrush 810rotates the shaft 1018, the cam 1016 comes into contact with the camcontact surface 1022 and drives or pushes the second bristle holder 1010causing the second bristle holder to swing or pivot about the hinge orpivot 1014. As the shaft 1018 continues to rotate, the cam 1016 becomesdisengaged with the cam contact surface 1022. During use, as the cam1016 comes in contact with the cam contact surface 1022, bristles of thesecond bristle holder 1010 are urged against the users teeth withgreater force. Preferably, bristles of the second bristle holder 1010are urged between the teeth of the user to provide a cleaning andflossing function. As the cam disengages with the contact surface 1022,bristles pressing against the teeth of the user urge the second bristleholder away from the users teeth. As this swinging or pivoting motion isrepeated (as the shaft 1018 continues to rotate), a flossing or deepcleaning motion is provided that is distinct from and complimentary tothe motion provided by the first bristle holder 814.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 9, in a third embodiment, a second bristleholder 1110 is movably mounted in slots 1112 in the toothbrush head 816and separately driven in a vibratory, lifting or vertical pulsatingmotion (e.g., in a direction substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis 1114 and substantially parallel to a surface 1115 ofthe second bristle holder 1110 as shown by way of example in FIG. 9)within the slots 1112, by a cam 1116 included on a driving shaft 1118.Optionally, the driving shaft is supported by a shaft support 1120. Thecam 1116 can comprise one or more bends in the shaft 1118 or can beprovided as a separate piece as previously discussed. A cam contactsurface 1122 is located on a bottom surface of the second bristle holder1110. As the motor 819 (see FIG. 6) of the toothbrush 810 rotates theshaft 1118, the cam 1116 comes into contact with the cam contact surface1122 and drives or lifts in a vibratory, lifting, or vertical pulsatingmotion the second bristle holder 1110 causing the second bristle holderto lift or pulsate in a direction away from the head portion 816 andtoward the teeth of a toothbrush user (not shown). As the shaft 1118continues to rotate, the cam 1116 becomes disengaged with the camcontact surface 1122. During use, as the cam 1016 comes in contact withthe cam contact surface 1122, bristles of the second bristle holder 1110are urged against the users teeth with varying degrees of force.Preferably, bristles of the second bristle holder 1110 are urged betweenthe teeth of the user to provide a cleaning and flossing function. Asthe cam disengages with the contact surface 1122, bristles pressingagainst the teeth of the user urge the second bristle holder away fromthe users teeth and back toward the head portion 816. As this lifting orvertical pulsating motion is repeated (as the shaft 1018 continues torotate), a flossing or deep cleaning motion is provided that is distinctfrom and complimentary to the motion provided by the first bristleholder 814.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 10, in a fourth embodiment, a second bristleholder 1210 is movably mounted in slots (not shown, but similar to theslots 912 illustrated in FIG. 7) in the toothbrush head 816 andseparately driven in a reciprocating or translating, longitudinal motionwithin the slots by a cam 1216 included on a driving shaft 1218.Optionally, the shaft is supported by shaft supports 1217. The shaftsupports may include C or U shaped portions (not shown) that areoperative to receive and snap around the shaft. Other means forretaining a shaft in a support are known in the art. The cam 1216 cancomprise a shaped bead, with an appropriate eccentric configuration,placed or molded over and firmly secured to the shaft 1218. In oneembodiment, the cam 1216 includes a pair of acutely angled surfaces1219, 1220 which are inclined in the same direction and at the sameangle of inclination, but which are disposed at opposite ends of the cam1216. The direction of inclination and angle of inclination can bevaried as desired to change the frequency and stroke of the secondbristle holder 1210. First 1222 and second 1226 cam followers dependfrom a bottom surface of the second bristle holder 1210. The camfollowers 1222, 1226 are offset or spaced from a transverse axis 1230 ofthe second bristle holder. The cam followers 1222, 1226 straddle and/orcapture the cam 1216 so that the angled surfaces 1219, 1220 slidablyengage the free ends of the cam followers 1222 and 1226. As the motor819 (see FIG. 6) of the toothbrush 810 rotates the shaft 1218, the firstacutely angled surface 1220 of the cam 1216 comes into contact with asurface of the first cam follower 1222 and drives the cam follower, andtherefore, the second bristle holder 1210, away from the first bristleholder 814 along the longitudinal axis 818 of the head portion 816. Asthe shaft 918 continues to rotate, the cam 1216 becomes disengaged withthe first cam follower 1222. The second acutely angled second surface1219 of the cam 1216 then comes into contact with a surface of thesecond cam follower 1226 and drives the second cam follower 1226, andtherefore, the second bristle holder 1210, back toward the first bristleholder 814. As this back and forth motion is repeated (as the shaft 918continues to rotate), a scrubbing action is provided by thereciprocating or translating motion that is distinct from andcomplimentary to the motion provided by the first bristle holder 814.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, in a fifth embodiment of theelectric toothbrush 810, a second bristle holder 1310 is movably mountedin slots (not shown, but similar to the slots 912 illustrated in FIG. 7)in the toothbrush head 816 and separately driven in an reciprocating ortranslating, longitudinal motion, by a cam 1316 included on a drivingshaft 1318. Optionally, the shaft is supported by shaft supports 1317.The shaft supports may include C or U shaped portions (not shown) thatare operative to receive and snap around the shaft. Other means forretaining a shaft in a support are known in the art. The cam 1316 issinusoidal or curvilinear in nature in that it has one or more adjacentarcuate bends 1319 and 1320 in the shaft 1318. The arcuate bends 1319,1320 each have an apex 1321, and the apexes 1321 are disposed onopposite sides of the driving shaft 1318. A cam follower 1322 dependsfrom a bottom surface 1323 of the second bristle holder 1310 and isdisposed between the apexes 1321 of the cam 1316. As the motor 819 ofthe toothbrush 810 rotates the shaft 1318, a first surface 1325 of thecam 1316 comes into contact with a first surface 1324 of the camfollower 1322 and drives the cam follower 1322, and therefore, thesecond bristle holder 1310 away from the first bristle holder 814 in adirection along the longitudinal axis 818 of the head portion 816. Asthe shaft 1318 continues to rotate, the first surface 1325 of the cam1316 reaches the apex 1321 and becomes disengaged with the first camfollower surface 1324. A second surface 1326 of the cam 1316 then comesinto contact with a second surface 1426 of the cam follower 1322 anddrives the cam follower 1322, and therefore, the second bristle holder1310 back toward the first bristle holder 814. As this back and forthmotion is repeated (as the shaft 1318 continues to rotate), a scrubbingaction is provided by the reciprocating or translating motion that isdistinct from and complimentary to the motion provided by the firstbristle holder 814. The stroke and frequency of the reciprocating ortranslating motion can be varied by changing the spacing between theapexes and/or the amplitude or height of the apexes.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 13, in a sixth embodiment of the electrictoothbrush 810, a second bristle holder 1508 is movably mounted to thetoothbrush head 816 with a pivot 1510, which can be provided in the formof a pin or hinge, is installed at a centrally located transverse axisof the second bristle holder 1508. In one embodiment, the second bristleholder 1508 pivots about a pin, which is anchored in the sidewalls ofthe toothbrush neck or head 816 at the midpoint of the second bristleholder 1508. The second bristle holder 1508 is separately driven in avibratory, swinging, teetering or rocking motion by a cam comprised offirst 1512 and second 1514 cam portions included on a driving shaft1518. Optionally, the shaft is supported by shaft supports 1519. Theshaft supports may include C or U shaped portions (not shown) that areoperative to receive and snap around the shaft. Other means forretaining a shaft in a support are known in the art. The cam portions1512, 1514 can comprise one or more rectilinear, cuvilinear or otherbends in the shaft 1518. As is illustrated in FIG. 13 the first camportion 1512 is located adjacent a first side of the pivot and thesecond cam portion 1514 is located adjacent a second side of the pivot.The second cam portion 1514 can comprise a portion of the remote-mostend of the shaft 1518. First 1520 and second 1522 cam contact surfacesare located on a bottom surface of the second bristle holder 1508. As isthe case with all the described embodiments, the amplitude or height ofthe bends or eccentricities that make up the first and second camportions 1512, 1514 are large enough reach the related cam contactsurface(s) and to drive the second bristle holder a desired distancetoward, into, across or along a toothbrush users teeth. As the motor 819of the toothbrush 810 rotates the shaft 1518, the first cam portion 1512comes into contact with the first cam contact surface 1520 and drives orlifts (relative to the figure) a first end 1522 of the second bristleholder 1510 causing the first end 1522 to rock or move about the pivot1510 in a direction away from the head portion 816 and toward the teethof a toothbrush user (not shown). This action lowers a second end 1526of the second bristle holder back toward the head portion 816. As theshaft 1518 continues to rotate, the first cam portion 1512 becomesdisengaged with the first cam contact surface 1520 and the second camportion 1514 engages the second cam contact surface 1522. The second camportion 1514 drives or lifts (relative to the figure) the second end1526 of the second bristle holder 1508 causing the second end 1522 torock or move about the pivot 1510 in a direction away from the headportion 816 and toward the teeth of the toothbrush user. This actionlowers a first end 1530 of the second bristle holder back toward thehead portion 816. During use, as the first and second cam portions 1512,1514 alternately come in contact with the first and second cam contactsurfaces 1520, 1522, bristles of the second bristle holder 1508 areurged against teeth of the user with varying degrees of force.Preferably, bristles of the second bristle holder 1508 are urged betweenthe teeth of the user to provide a cleaning and flossing function. Asthe rocking or pivoting motion is repeated (as the shaft 1518 continuesto rotate), a flossing or deep cleaning motion is provided that isdistinct from and complimentary to the motion provided by the firstbristle holder 814.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 14, in a seventh embodiment of the electrictoothbrush 810, a second bristle holder 1608 is movably mounted to thetoothbrush head 816 with a pivot 1610, which can be provided in the formof a pin or of a hinge installed at a transverse axis of the secondbristle holder 1608. In one embodiment, the second bristle holder 1608pivots about a pin, which is anchored in the side walls of thetoothbrush neck at one end of the second bristle holder 1608. Thetransverse axis is, for example, adjacent to a first end 1612 of thesecond bristle holder 1608. The second bristle holder 1608 is separatelydriven in a vibratory, swinging, pivoting or rocking motion by a cam1614 included on a driving shaft 1618. Optionally, the shaft issupported by shaft supports 1619. The shaft supports may include C or Ushaped portions (not shown) that are operative to receive and snaparound the shaft. Other means for retaining a shaft in a support areknown in the art. The cam 1614 can comprise one or more bends in theshaft 1618. For example, the bends can be rectilinear, curvilinear orother kinds of bends. A cam contact surface 1622 is located on a bottomsurface of the second bristle holder 1608 adjacent to a second end 1626thereof. As the motor 819 of the toothbrush 810 rotates the shaft 1618,the cam 1614 comes into contact with the cam contact surface 1622 anddrives or lifts (relative to the figure) the second end 1626 of thesecond bristle holder 1608 causing the second end 1626 of the secondbristle holder 1608 to rock or move about the pivot 1610 in a directionaway from the head portion 816 and toward the teeth of a toothbrush user(not shown). As the shaft 1618 continues to rotate, the cam 1614 becomesdisengaged with the cam contact surface 1622. During use, as the cam1614 comes in contact with the cam contact surface 1622, bristles of thesecond bristle holder 1608 are urged against teeth of the user with avarying degree of force. Preferably, bristles of the second bristleholder 1608 are urged between the teeth of the user to provide acleaning and flossing function. As the cam disengages with the contactsurface 1622, bristles pressing against the teeth of the user urge thesecond bristle holder away from the users teeth and back toward the headportion 816. As this swinging or pivoting motion is repeated (as theshaft 1618 continues to rotate), a flossing or deep cleaning motion isprovided that is distinct from, and complimentary to, the motionprovided by the first bristle holder 814.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, in an eighth embodiment of theelectric toothbrush 810, a second bristle holder 1810 is movably mountedin slots 1812 in the toothbrush head 816 and separately driven in areciprocating or translating, transverse motion within the slots 1812 bya cam 1816 included on a driving shaft 1818. This motion is the sametype of motion previously described with respect to the second bristleholder 910 shown in FIG. 7 and is also the same type of motion that thefirst bristle holder 814 undergoes. The cam 1816 can comprise anappropriately shaped bead placed over or molded and fixedly secured tothe shaft 1818. The transverse motion of the second bristle holder 1810can be out of phase with the transverse movement of the first bristleholder 814. For example, as the first bristle holder 814 travels towardone side of the head 816, the second bristle holder 1810 would betraveling toward the opposite side of the head 816. The cam can includeone or more rectilinear, curvilinear or other kind of bend. First 1822and second 1826 cam followers depend from a bottom surface of the secondbristle holder 1810. The cam followers are, for example, offset from thelongitudinal axis 818 of the second bristle holder and straddle orcapture the cam 1816. As the motor 819 (see FIG. 6) rotates the shaft1818, the cam 1816 comes into contact with a surface 1821 of the firstcam follower 1822 and drives the first cam follower 1822, and therefore,the second bristle holder 1810 away from a first side 1828 of the headportion 816 along an axis 1830 transverse to the longitudinal axis 818of the head portion 816. As the shaft 1818 continues to rotate, the cam1816 becomes disengaged with the first cam follower 1822. The cam 1816then comes into contact with a surface 1825 of the second cam follower1826 and drives the second cam follower 1826, and therefore, the secondbristle holder 1810 back toward the first side 1828 of the head portion816. As this back and forth or side to side motion is repeated (as theshaft 1818 continues to rotate), a sweeping motion is provided that isdistinct from and complimentary to the motion provided by the firstbristle holder 814.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 17, in a ninth embodiment of the electrictoothbrush 810, a second bristle holder 1910 is movably mounted in slots(not shown) in the toothbrush head 816 and separately driven in anreciprocating or translating, longitudinal motion, by a cam 1916included on a driving shaft 1918. The cam 1916 can comprise a shapedbead, with an appropriate configuration, placed or molded over andfirmly secured to the shaft 1918. The cam 1916 includes a reversingspiral or helical groove 1920. The spiral or helical groove extendsaround a circumference of the bead and spirals about a longitudinal axisof the bead. For example, the longitudinal axis coincides with the shaft1918. A cam follower 1922 depends from a bottom surface 1923 of thesecond bristle holder 1910. The cam follower 1922 is slidingly receivedwithin the spiral groove 1920. As the motor 819 of the toothbrush 810rotates the shaft 1918, a first surface 1924 of the spiral groove 1920comes into contact with a first surface 1925 of the cam follower 1922and drives the cam follower 1922, and therefore, the second bristleholder 1910 away from the first bristle holder 814 along thelongitudinal axis 818 of the head portion 816. As the shaft 1918continues to rotate, the cam follower 1922 reaches an apex 1926 of thespiral groove 1920 and the first surface 1924 of the spiral groove 1920becomes disengaged with the first cam surface 1925. A second surface1928 of the spiral groove 1920 then comes into contact with a secondsurface 1930 of the cam follower 1922 and drives the cam follower 1922,and therefore, the second bristle holder 1910 back toward the firstbristle holder 814. As this back and forth motion is repeated (as theshaft 1918 continues to rotate), a scrubbing motion is provided that isdistinct from and complimentary to the motion provided by the firstbristle holder 814. Optionally cam 1916 is eccentrically mounted on theshaft 1918 and the longitudinal axis of the bead or cam 1916 does notcoincide with the shaft 1918. In this case, if the cam follower 1922 ismade long enough to ride on the bottom of the spiral groove 1920, alifting or vertical pulsing force is provided to the second bristleholder as the eccentrically mounted came is rotated by the shaft.Alternately, or additionally, the depth of the groove is varied. Thevariation in depth provides lifting or vertical pulsing forces to thecam follower and therefore to the second bristle holder. The spiralgroove may be replaced with a groove that cycles back and forth alongthe longitudinal axis of the bead several times as it circles the bead.This sort of groove can be used to increase the reciprocating frequencyof the second bristle holder.

[0042] While the above-described embodiments of the present inventionhave been illustrated for simplicity with bristles which extend in adirection substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 818 andthe surface (for example see 1115 of FIG. 9) of the bristle holders, itis contemplated that the bristles might be arranged differently tocomplement or further enhance the motions of the first and/or secondbristle holders. Referring to FIG. 18, some or all of the bristles mightextend in a direction which forms an acute angle 2008 to a surface 2006of the bristle holder and extends in a direction toward or away from thehandle, such as shown by way of example in FIG. 18 with respect tobristles 2010 and 2014 respectively. Referring to FIG. 19, in anotherembodiment, some of the bristles might extend outwardly away from head,in another direction, again forming an acute angle 2108 with respect tothe surface of the bristle holder, as shown by way in FIG. 19 withrespect to bristles 2110 and 2114. Elastomeric bristles or bristles ofvarying height might also be used, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.Des. 330,286 and Des. 434,563. Other preferred bristle arrangementssuitable for use include those arrangements described in whole or partin U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,006,394; 4,081,876; 5,046,213; 5,335,389; 5,392,483;5,446,940; 4,894,880; and international publication no. WO 99/23910.

[0043] The invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others uponreading and understanding this specification. For example, while thesecond bristle holders of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 17have been described as driven directly by the shaft, it is contemplatedthat second bristle holder could be directly driven by the first bristleholder by a link, pin, gearing, rack and pinion, or other mechanicalconnection between the first bristle holder and the second bristleholder. Further, while the first bristle holder has been illustrated ascylindrical in shape, the first bristle holder can encompass alternativeshapes and sizes. It is intended that these and other modifications andalterations are included insofar as they come within the scope of theappended claims or equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electric toothbrush, comprising: a handlehaving an electric motor; a head; a neck extending between said handleand said head, said head having a first end disposed adjacent to saidneck and a second end opposite said first end, said head having a firstbristle holder with a plurality of bristles disposed therein and asecond bristle holder having a plurality of bristles disposed therein,wherein said first moving bristle holder is located at said second endof said head; and a rotating shaft operatively connected to saidelectric motor and to said first moving bristle holder to reciprocatesaid first moving bristle holder in a direction transverse to alongitudinal axis of said head.
 2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1,wherein said bristles of said second bristle holder are static.
 3. Theelectric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said first bristle holder has aplurality of cam followers that depend from said first bristle holderand operatively engage a cam on said rotating shaft.
 4. The electrictoothbrush of claim 1, wherein said second bristle holder is located atsaid first end of said head.
 5. The electric toothbrush of claim 1,wherein said cam followers are offset from a longitudinal axis of saidfirst bristle holder.
 6. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, said headfurther comprising a plurality of slots for guiding said first bristleholder.
 7. The electric toothbrush of claim 6, wherein said slots areformed in said first bristle holder.
 8. The electric toothbrush of claim5, wherein said cam followers are disposed near the middle of said firstbristle holder.
 9. The electric toothbrush of claim 6, said head furthercomprises a plurality of fingers that engage said plurality of slots.10. The electric toothbrush of claim 9, wherein said fingers depend fromsaid first bristle holder.
 11. The electric toothbrush of claim 1,wherein said second bristle holder is movable.
 12. The electrictoothbrush of claim 11, wherein said movement is selected from the groupconsisting of reciprocation, pivoting, and vertical pulsating motion.13. The electric toothbrush of claim 11, wherein said rotating shaftengages said second bristle holder.
 14. An electric toothbrush,comprising: a handle having an electric motor; a head; a neck extendingbetween said handle and said head, said head having a first end disposedadjacent to said neck and a second end opposite said first end, saidhead having a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristles disposedtherein and a second bristle holder having a plurality of bristlesdisposed therein, wherein said first moving bristle holder is located atsaid second end of said head; and a rotating shaft operatively connectedto said electric motor and to said first moving bristle holder toreciprocate said first moving bristle holder in a direction transverseto a longitudinal axis of said head, said head further comprising aplurality of slots for guiding said first bristle holder.
 15. Theelectric toothbrush of claim 14, wherein said bristles of said secondbristle holder are static.
 16. The electric toothbrush of claim 14,wherein said first bristle holder has a plurality of cam followers thatdepend from said first bristle holder and operatively engage a cam onsaid rotating shaft.
 17. The electric toothbrush of claim 14, whereinsaid cam followers are offset from a longitudinal axis of said firstbristle holder.
 18. The electric toothbrush of claim 17, wherein saidcam followers are disposed near the middle of said first bristle holder.19. The electric toothbrush of claim 14, wherein said slots are formedin said first bristle holder.
 20. The electric toothbrush of claim 14,wherein said head further comprises a plurality of fingers that engagesaid plurality of slots.
 21. The electric toothbrush of claim 14,wherein said second bristle holder is movable.
 22. The electrictoothbrush of claim 21, wherein said rotating shaft engages said secondbristle holder.